FG increases fuel pump price

Photo: domingoreport.com

The Federal Government has approved an increase in the pump price of petrol as part of efforts aimed at ending fuel queues across the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said while the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency would be announcing the new price effective from Wednesday, he had been assured that it would not be more than N145 per litre.
Kachikwu said, “Following a detailed presentation by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to the meeting, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:
“In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.
“All oil marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.
“Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.
“We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel.
“In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.”
Kachikwu said the decision was reached at a stakeholders meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and attended by the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum and labour unions including the NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN.
The meeting was held inside the Vice-President’s official residence, Aguda House.
The minister said the meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem was the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government, saying as a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.

He did not entertain any question at the end of the briefing.

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Emefiele does not use private jets – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Saturday denied reports that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and members of his family flew private chartered jet to the burial of his mother.
The apex bank in a statement issued by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okoroafor, said neither the governor nor any of its top official had engaged the services of chartered private jets since 2015.
It said while it had been a practice for its governors in the past to use private chartered jets when embarking on urgent national assignments, such practice was stopped by Emefiele when he assumed office in 2015.
It said Emefiele had taken the decision in response to the economic downturn which the country was suffering and also in line with the cost cutting stance of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The CBN in the statement said the governor and his family members flew a commercial Arik flight from Lagos to Benin for their mother’s burial.
The statement reads in part, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has, for several years in the past, used private and official chartered flights in making urgent travels to meet needs in remote, not-easily- accessible locations or in cases where timing might be critical to matters of urgent national importance.
This practice was in place long before the assumption of office of the current Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
“In fact it is on record that the past two CBN Governors actively used chartered private jet services to meet urgent national assignments.
“However in 2015, in response to the economic downturn and the cost-cutting stance of government, Mr. Emefiele ordered the stoppage of the use of chartered flights by the Bank.
“Since then, neither Mr. Emefiele nor any of the Deputy Governors has used the services of private chartered flights and the CBN has not paid a kobo for private jet services.
“Mr Emefiele and indeed other principal officers of the CBN have religiously maintained the modest disposition of using regular flights, including doing several trips by road to and from different parts of the country.
“It is also important to note here that no private jet was used by Mr. Emefiele, his immediate family, or indeed other principal officers of the Bank during the burial of Mr Emefiele’s mother.”

It stated that while the bank had in 1990 acquired a dedicated jet to facilitate its smooth operations particularly for urgent currency movement, the jet was however taken over by the military administration when there was a more urgent need for it at the State House.

Fire kills 105 during Hindu New Year

Afeez Hanafi with agency reports
A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala was gutted by fire on Sunday, killing no fewer than 105 people.
At least, 500 others were injured in the inferno, which broke out from a fireworks display, marking Hindu New Year celebration.
The explosion at the Puttingal temple killed at least 105 people and injured more than 500, CNN quoted Indian authorities as saying.
It was learnt that the building was crowded with thousands of devotees celebrating the Hindu new year when the explosion happened at around 3.30am local time.
One part of the Puttingal temple in the village of Paravoor, near the city of Kollam, is reported to have collapsed, trapping people underneath, as the blaze swept through the complex, Sky News reports.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the injured in hospital.
Television footage showed images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the night sky.
Successive explosions sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as half a mile, eyewitnesses said.
Nirmala, 58, said he was sleeping in her house with her daughter and granddaughter when theexplosion occurred.
He said, “I thought there was an earthquake and hid under the bed,” she said. “When I came out, there was no electricity. People were running everywhere, and burnt bodies were on the ground. The smell was really bad.”
A resident, Krishna Das, said, “People were screaming in the dark … no one knew how to find their way out.”
According to reports, the blaze is thought to have been caused by a firecracker that fell on a shed where fireworks were stored for the festivities.
The air force and navy were called in to evacuate the most critically hurt and medics have been flown in from the capital New Delhi.
Kerala home minister, Ramesh Chennithala, said firefighters and police worked through the night to douse the fire and take the injured to hospital.
“Now the situation is under control… the police are on the spot,” he said.
State health authorities said many of the injured had been driven to the state capital Thiruvananthapuram as hospitals in Kollam were stretched.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and a hospital where some of those wounded in the blast were being treated.
Every year, the Paravoor temple holds a competitive fireworks display, with groups putting on light shows for thousands of devotees gathered for the last day of a seven-day festival honouring the Hindu goddess Bhadrakali.
This year’s competition was happening without permission after the state’s High Court banned competitive light shows at temples.

State Labour minister Shibu Baby John said incident would be investigated.

Abducted Edo lawmaker’s mother escapes kidnappers’ den

The 68-year-old mother of a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, Abibat Adjoto, who was reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers, ‎has regained her freedom.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Osifo Abiodun, confirmed this to our correspondent this evening.
‎The woman, whose son, Kabiru Adjoto, represents Akoko Edo II constituency, was said to have been kidnapped on Thursday at her residence within Ikakumo village, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state.
‎She was reportedly abducted along with one of her adopted sons, whose name could not to be verified.
According sources, the suspected kidnappers invaded the village at about 1am on Thursday, shooting sporadically for about two hours, causing the villagers to scamper for safety.
Efforts to reach the three-time lawmaker for comments on Saturday were unsuccessful.
‎But a source close to the family, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the kidnappers forcefully took their victims away, after beating them up.
It was also learnt that the abductors had yet to make any contact with the family of the victims.
‎The source said, “They came to our village and started shooting. They took mama away and one of her sons.”
The police spokesman said Abiba‎t reportedly escaped from the kidnappers den on the same day.
‎Abiodun, who said that she has since been reunited with her family, however, noted that he was aware of the abduction of one of her adopted sons.

“‎It was a failed attempt. The woman escaped from them; they did not succeed. Of course, the police were mobilised. Members of her community were also mobilised and they intervened,”‎ he said.

Violence mars Rivers poll, Wike’s aides, thugs arrested

No fewer than seven persons were feared killed during the National and State Assemblies re-run election that was held in Rivers State on Saturday.
The election was marred by violence which forced the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the exercise in six out of the 23 local government areas of the state.
This was as the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, was arrested by soldiers in Gokana for allegedly stalling the distribution of election materials.
The local government areas where the election was cancelled according to INEC were Tai, Khana, Gokana, Andoni, Eleme and Bonny.
It was gathered that killings were recorded in Nonwa, Tai; Rumuokuta in Obio/Akpor; and Eleme LGAs, even as gunmen engaged security agents in fierce gun battles in Eleme and Akuku-Toru LGAs.
Two persons were said to have been killed in Asari-Toru Local Government Area.
One Gabriel Amachree was said to have been shot by unknown gunmen suspected to be political thugs in Abonnema, the headquarters of the LGA.
Also, a member of the Peace Corps was said to have lost his life after he was shot in Abalama, a community in the same LGA.
A man identified as John Nyenwe was said to have been shot in Omanwa in Ikwerre LGA while another person identified as an INEC official was reportedly shot dead by suspected thugs.
In Tai, one Tambari was said to have been shot by a soldier in Nonwa, the headquarters of Tai Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, nine persons with voting materials but without any police escort were arrested by soldiers in Port Harcourt.
Those arrested were members of INEC’s ad hoc staff, who said they did not need any escort since their destination was not far.
A man, Lucky Sunday, who claimed to be one of the adhoc staff for the senatorial and House of Reps election, told reporters that they were distributing the election materials to different voting points.
“On our way to the RAC centre, with my Supervisory Presiding Officer, we were stopped by the military team who asked us why we were going about without a police officer. My SPO was trying to explain to them that our unit, Unit 23, Ward 1 at Tombia Street, was just close by.
“My SPO had taken us to so many centres and this was the last centre that we were going; we had been dropping people in the other units.
“As a matter of fact, we had been to this particular unit before but we had to go back to the INEC Office at CFC in Port Harcourt when we discovered that there was no ballot box. It was while we were going back that we were arrested,” Sunday said.
In Gokana LGA, suspected political thugs working for one of the major political parties reportedly threw an explosive device suspected to be dynamite into the INEC office in the area.
The Rivers State SSG, Kobani, had earlier complained about the delay in the commencement of voting and the presence of fake result sheets, insisting that in view of the anomaly the election should not hold.
Disturbed by the situation, a group of soldiers were said to have taken him away in order to allow the exercise to hold in the area.
However, not too long after this, a group of suspected political thugs stormed the area and engaged the security operatives there in a gun battle.
However, a military source told one of our correspondents that Kobani was not arrested and that his only his movement was restricted.
“No, we did not arrest him; we only restricted his movement and later allowed him to go,” the source said.
In Rumuomoi Ward 12, Obio/Akpor LGA, some members of the National Youth Service Corps abandoned their duty posts for some minutes when the atmosphere became charged before security agents were called in to beef up security.
It took the appeal of some indigenes of the area before the corps members, who were sweating profusely, agreed to go back to their post and continue with the conduct of the election.
On the cancelled elections, the state INEC Public Relations Officer, Antonia Nwobu, told our corespondant that the commission decided to “suspend” the polls in six LGAs due to high level of violence and security breach.
Nwobu, however, explained that a rerun would hold in the affected LGAs on a yet-to-be fixed date.
Earlier, Governor Nyesom Wike, who voted by 12.02pm, said the INEC was not prepared for the election, even as he expressed sadness over reports of fake result sheets being used in some parts of the state.
The governor also urged the commission to always speak out when confronted with challenges.
Wike said, “I stood for over five minutes before the card reader captured me. Generally, I am impressed with the security arrangement. On the part of INEC, I cannot give them a pass mark as far as I am concerned.
“We have said on several occasions that if you know that you have a problem, let the world know that you have a problem. Do not tell the world that you are prepared when you know that you are not prepared.
“Most people would have boycotted this election today because people are saying that there are fake result sheets and they have tried to call the INEC commissioner to ascertain the truth. INEC is not properly prepared but security is doing their best.”
Responding to the claim that fake result sheets were seen in some areas, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, dismissed the allegation, saying it was not possible for the commission to distribute fake materials.
“I don’t think there was anything like fake result sheets; I have said that times without number. What we know in the commission is that only a result sheet was produced and you cannot say a thing that does not have a duplicate is fake, because fake must be compared with the original.
“What we had was the original; the fake may be in the imagination of those making such an allegation. I did mention it clearly that if by act of commission or omission, we are not allowed to occupy the RACs, we cannot actually guarantee that we can deliver 100 per cent.
“Today, we had the experience where most of our materials were not even allowed to move in; some were returned on the way. Even when we tried to move to the RACs in some of the places this morning, certain people with excuses also tried to prevent us.
“There were accusations of not believing in the materials we brought and so and so forth. There were issues of violence; there were issues of insecurity of lives. After all we let the people know, but at the end of the day, we were still prevented from moving out.
“From 12pm to 1pm, we did not see that it was necessary for us to continue to press to go to the field. Even some of our people who were able to get to the field turned back because of sporadic shootings.
“It is better for the life of the personnel to be preserved than trying to conduct the election, even when the environment is not conducive,” the INEC REC added.
The election was also characterised by delay in some parts of the state and voter apathy as less than 50 per cent of registered voters turned out for the exercise.
The House of Representatives candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Tony Okocha, expressed sadness over the alleged hijacking of election materials in one of the wards in Obio/Akpor LGA.
Okocha, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, stated that thugs had accosted a bus conveying the materials to their destination, chased away INEC officers before carting away the materials.
“We cannot continue to allow this criminality to happen in Rivers State. We must be able to hold election without violence. I don’t know why they are afraid of a free and fair election,” he said.

Saraki repaid personal bank loans with Kwara’s funds – CCB

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki

The Code of Conduct Bureau has said there is evidence that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while governor of K‎wara State between 1999 and 2007, obtained huge bank loans and paid back the loans with funds belonging to the state.
‎The bureau alleged that Saraki used the bank loans running into billions of naira to acquire landed assets in Lagos, Abuja and London.
The Bureau said it gathered the information from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which conducted investigations into various petitions written against the Senate President between 2010 and 2012.
‎The CCB’s position is contained in a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Peter Danladi, in opposition to a fresh motion filed by Saraki to challenge the validity of the 13 counts of false assets declaration instituted against him before the tribunal.
‎Danladi stated, “That I was informed by Mr. Yahaya Bello, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in our office on March 14, 2016 at about 11am and I verily believe him that:
“The EFCC received various petitions against the defendant/applicant between 2010 and 2012 alleging acts of corruption, theft, money laundering etc.
“The EFCC conducted its investigation of the various petitions and made findings which showed that the defendant/applicant abused his office while he was Governor of Kwara State and was involved in various acts of corruption as the governor of the state.
“The defendant/applicant borrowed huge sums of money running into billions from commercial banks, particularly Guarantee Trust Bank and used the proceeds of the loan to acquire several landed properties in Lagos, Abuja and London while he was Governor of Kwara State.
“As against the defendant using his own legitimate income to defray the loan, he took public funds running into billions from Kwara State Government and lodged same in several tranches and in cash into his GTB account in GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State.
“The defendant/applicant’s account officer in GTB confirmed that the defendant/applicant gave him several cash in government house to lodge into the account and in some occasions, the defendant sent his aides from government house to give him the cash for lodgment into his account.
“When EFCC submitted its report to its legal department and the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice formed the opinion that the offences revealed from the investigation, particularly as they relate to the properties acquired by the defendant/applicant while he was Governor of Kwara State and various monies sent into his various accounts outside Nigeria can be better investigated and prosecuted through the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation then sent the findings and the evidence gathered during investigation by the EFCC as a complaint to the Code of Conduct Bureau for investigation and that the operative of EFCC would collaborate with the officers of the bureau for effective investigations.”

Policemen on election assignment injured in Rivers road crash

Some Policemen from Ondo State, who were drafted to Rivers State for Saturday’s rerun election in the state, were involved in an accident on Friday.
The accident occurred along the East-West road near Akala- Olu community in Rivers State, according Sahara Reporters.
The police truck conveying about 100 policemen collided with another truck transporting cattle along the same road.
Several cows died in the accident while some policemen sustained injuries.


Details later..

Manslaughter: Fiberesima seeks bail on health grounds

Ibinabo Fiberesima

Ex-beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has urged the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which last Friday affirmed the   five years’ imprisonment imposed on her by a Lagos State High Court.
The actress is also seeking to be released on bail pending when the Supreme Court would hear and determine her appeal against the appellate court’s judgment.
In a six-paragraph affidavit of urgency filed in support of her bail application, one Victor Eden said Fibresima had just undergone surgery to remove breast cancer.
Eden said the surgical wound had yet to heal, adding that the actress was afraid that her life might be endangered if kept in prison custody.
Eden said, “Her (Fiberesima) wound has not fully healed and, as such, she is afraid that her continued stay in the prison may endanger her life as she will not have access to a proper medical attention.
“It will be in the interest of justice and for her health and safety for the appellant to be admitted to bail pending the hearing and determination of the appellant’s appeal before the Supreme Court.”
But the bail application suffered a setback on Thursday as the Court of Appeal decided it was ‘incompetent’.
Fiberesima’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, had told the appellate court panel comprising Justices U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu, Samuel Oseji and Tijani Abubakar that he had served the bail application on the Lagos State Government, which is the respondent in the appeal.
But Justice Ndukwe-Anyanwu, who led the panel, observed that copies of the court judgments leading to Fiberesima’s conviction and sentence were not attached to the bail application.
The judge said failure to attach the judgments had rendered the application incompetent, adding that the options left to the court in the circumstance were to either strike out the bail application or adjourn for the appellant to do the needful.
Amaechina opted for an adjournment to enable him to “do the needful”.
The panel consequently adjourned till April 7 to hear the application.
Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the state high court had in 2009 convicted Fiberesima of manslaughter, holding that her reckless driving was responsible for an auto crash which claimed the life of one Dr. Giwa Suraj on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
While sentencing Fiberesima to five years imprisonment, Justice Oluwayemi overruled the decision of a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court which earlier ordered her to pay N100,000 for the offence.
Last Friday, the Court of Appeal upheld the Justice Oluwayemi’s judgment.
But Fiberesima, through her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court judgment.
Amaechina, in the grounds of the appeal, described the appellate court’s judgment as unreasonable and one that found no support in law in view of the evidence presented before it.
He contended that the Appellate Court erred in law when it affirmed the judgment of the high court that set aside the N100,000 fine imposed on Fiberesima and sentenced her to five years imprisonment.
The lawyer also contended that the Court of Appeal erred in law when it affirmed the inference by the high court that the magistrate’s court misused its discretion by giving Fiberesima N100,000 fine option for the manslaughter offence.

Senate back Reps’ takeover of Kogi House of Assembly

The Senate on Thursday approved the resolution of the House of Representatives to take over the legislative functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly, which is currently engulfed in crisis.
The Senate also adopted the House of Representatives resolution, which declared null and void, the impeachment proceeding embarked upon by five members against the Speaker, Mr. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal.
The upper chamber condemned the role played by the Police in subverting the provisions of the constitution by providing cover for only five members out of the 20 lawmakers in the state, to commit illegality.
It, therefore, directed the Inspector-General of Police to seal off the Kogi State House of Assembly complex until the matter is finally resolved.
The House of Representatives had on Wednesday, last week, took over the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The development followed the crisis in the Assembly over the impeachment of Jimoh-Lawal.
The House of Representatives went a step further to take over the Kogi Assembly in compliance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It took the decision after considering and approving the report of a 10-member investigative panel headed by the Deputy House Whip, Mr. Pally Iriase, to intervene.
The Senate was required by law to uphold the resolution of the House.

The upper chamber’s action was to make the House of Reps decision, comply with the constitutional provision requiring the “National Assembly “ to effect the takeover in line with Section 11(4) of the constitution.

Gunmen attack Rivers community, behead one

Gunmen have attacked Mgbuitanwo community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing and beheading a 28-year-old man.
The victim, who was identified as Mr. Ukeoma, was shot before he was decapitated by the unknown gunmen, who gained entry into the community at about 5:30am this morning.
Not done with their act, the gunmen abducted one Mr. Eruchi and took him to a yet-to-be ascertained destination, a witness said.
The mode of operation of the assailant was said to be similar to that of the attack that led to the recent killing and beheading of Franklin Obi, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Ward 4 in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and two members of his family.
Though no reason has been given for the attack, it was gathered that invasion of the community could be a reprisal by a cult group.

Metuh writes petition against judge, wants trial transfered

National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, has through his lawyers asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to withdraw his trial from Justice Okon Abang and re-assign it to another judge.
Justice Abang disclosed this on Thursday while writing a bench ruling on an application for adjournment  by one of the defence counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) to enable Metuh to open his defence on another date.
After entertaining submissions on the application for adjournment and midway into the writing of his ruling, Justice Abang, while reading from his record, asked Adedipe and the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, to respond to the petition written against him by another lawyer in the defence team.
He said, “Learned counsel for the prosecution and learned counsel for the defence, I want to ask you a question and I want you to respond if you are aware or not.
“Are you aware that after the prosecution had called eight witness cross-examined and re-examined and ruling has been delivered on the no-case submission by the defendants, dismissing the no-case submission, one of the counsel, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), wrote a petition to the honourable Chief Judge of this court asking for the transfer of this case, principally on the reasons that the court gave ruling on interlocutory ‎ruling that would prejudice the defene, and that the court also refused to release the ruling and the records of the proceedings to them, and that the first accused person was my classmate in the law school? I didn’t know the first accussed was my classmate, it was he (Etiaba) that said so. Are you aware of the petition?”
In response, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Tahir, said he was not aware of it.
He said, “Speaking for the prosecution my lord, I categorically state without any equivocation that until this hour and minute, I am not aware that such petition has been written by one of the counsel for the defendants.”
On his part, Adedipe said, “Any letter written by any member of the defence counsel is a decision of the defence team.

A ruling of the judge is being awaited.

Police arrest man for marrying wife without parents’ permission

The couple

Policemen attached to the Dolphin Police Division in Ikoyi have arrested a 30-year-old man, Ugo Madugba, for marrying his 28-year-old wife without the express approval of her parents.
Madugba’s wife, Nono Orji, who is a medical doctor, said in a Facebook post on Thursday that there were plans by the police to poison her husband.
She said her husband was arrested on the orders of her parents who have been against their marriage from day one.
She said, “The Nigerian Police in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi just arrested an innocent 30-year-old man called Ugo Madugba for an offence of marriage. Marriage has become a crime in Nigeria according to Dolphin police station in Ikoyi. Mr. Ugo got married to Dr. Nono a 28-year-old medical Doctor.
“Her father has been very distraught about it and has used the police to threaten the young couple to the extent of arresting all those who acted as witnesses to the marriage who are now in custody.
“He has been denied access to his family and friends and information reaching us has it that his lawyer was also denied access to him. There is a belief that a plan to poison ugo is being hatched. Please, forward this message to as many people as possible lets save Ugo’s life.”
Orji said in another Facebook post that her parents were trying to force her to marry another man but when she refused, they accused her husband of hypnotising her.
However, a police source told our correspondent that they believed that the wife was hypnotised and abducted by her husband.

The source said the matter would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, today.

Man arrested for stealing 4,000 pants

A taxi driver accused of stealing some 4,000 items of women’s underwear in Thailand has been publicly paraded by police, the second time in six years the alleged panty thief has been nabbed for fuelling his fetish.
The 54-year-old motorbike taxi chauffeur was paraded before local media Wednesday next to a mountain of bras and underwear that he allegedly stole in between ferrying passengers around the Thai capital on the back of his moped.
But investigators said they were currently unable to charge him because no one has made an official complaint as they called for victims to come forward.
“Police cannot detain him because we cannot find plaintiffs and the villagers are too embarrassed so I decided to make a public alert,” Sergeant Suwat Nisungkat of Samut Prakan police told AFP.
This is not the first time the prolific panty stealer has been caught for such an offence.
In 2010, police found him in possession of some 10,000 undergarments he had surreptitiously plucked from clotheslines and drying racks.
He was convicted of theft and jailed for slightly over three years, Suwat said.
“After he was arrested his wife left him and now she has become a nun because she’s embarrassed,” the officer said.

It

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of two soldiers in Rivers.
The killings come barely 48 hours to the National and State Assembly rerun elections scheduled to hold in the state on Saturday.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Capt. Elli Lazarus, confirmed the deaths to the News Agency of Nigeria reports in Port Harcourt.
He said that a major and one soldier were killed after an exchange of gunfire with suspected sea pirates in Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
He said, “At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, troops on patrol in Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, had a fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.
“Our men displayed extraordinary gallantry, but unfortunately, an officer and a soldier who sustained various degrees of injury during the encounter, lost their lives.
“We are currently in pursuit of the criminals and we will surely apprehend them,” he said.
Lazarus, however, urged residents of the state to go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation.

He assured them that the army had made necessary arrangements to ensure sustainable peace and security of lives and properties before, during and after the parliamentary elections in the state.

Rivers: Major, two soldiers killed in shootout with gunmen

A Major in the Nigerian Army and two soldiers were killed on Thursday during a gun battle with unknown gunmen in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the major and the soldiers succumbed to various degrees of gunshot injuries sustained during the encounter that occurred in the morning.

Details later… 

2016 budget: N’Assembly fails to keep promise

National Assembly Complex, Abuja

The National Assembly failed to keep its promise to lay the report on the N6.07tn budget for 2016 in its chambers today.
Contrary to expectations, neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives received any report on the budget from their Committee on Appropriation.
The budget was not listed on the Order Paper for the day’s business.
On March 2, the Senate/House Joint Committee on Appropriation had given their word that the report would be laid on March 16, while it would be considered and passed on March 17 (tomorrrow).
Senator Danjuma Goje, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation, and his counterpart from the House, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had given their word at a joint news conference held at the National Assembly.
Jibrin specifically said, “We will lay our report on the floor on the 16th of March. The report will be considered the next day, hopefully.
“So, it is safe for us to say that the budget will be passed on March 17.”
They failed to keep their word.
Findings showed that the committee had yet to tidy up a few details in the document.
However, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, today assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would transmit the 2016 Appropriation Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent before Easter.
Ndume, who stated this in an interview with journalists, explained that the report of the appropriation committee of the Senate would be laid by Goje tomorrow.

He said the report would be deliberated upon at plenary on Tuesday next week and passed, while the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikashuwa, would transmit the document to Buhari.

My wife starves me of sex, 77-year-old tells court

A 77-year-old retired engineer on Wednesday pleaded with an Agboyi-Ketu Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 23-year-old marriage, alleging that his wife often starved him of sex.
The septuagenarian, Mr. Kola Fagbule, whose address was not disclosed, told the court that his 51-year-old wife, Beatrice, always denied him sex anytime he demanded for it.
“She always starves me of sex whenever I am in the mood and I don’t want to have prostate cancer.
“At my age, I am supposed to be enjoying sex now and not when I am gone; I don’t want to die before my time,” he told the court,” he said.
Fagbule also accused Beatrice, principal of a school, of not caring for his welfare, adding that there was no more love between them.
“I am tired of her and I don’t love her anymore,” he said.
He pleaded that the court should dissolve the estranged union, saying that he could no longer tolerate Beatrice’s conduct.
The respondent, Beatrice, did not deny the allegations, but told the court that her husband was a womanizer and jobless.
She also asked the court to dissolve the union which had produced a child, a university undergraduate.
The Court President, Mr. O. T. Williams, adjourned the case to April 4 for ‘review of facts of the matter’.

Nigerian teen jailed 37 years for duping American $40m Simon Ejembi / 1 hour ago Tobechukwu Igbokwe 1140 Eniola Akinkuotu Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam. Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam. Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping. The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe. Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000. The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences. Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment. The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy. Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly. Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such. However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed.

Nigerian teen jailed 37 years for duping American $40m

Tobechukwu Igbokwe

Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping.
The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe.
Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.
The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment.
The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy.
Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.
Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such.

However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed.

Nigerian teen jailed 37 years for duping American $40m Simon Ejembi / 1 hour ago Tobechukwu Igbokwe 1140 Eniola Akinkuotu Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam. Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam. Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping. The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe. Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000. The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences. Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment. The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy. Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly. Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such. However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed.

Nigerian teen jailed 37 years for duping American $40m

Tobechukwu Igbokwe

Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping.
The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe.
Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.
The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment.
The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy.
Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.
Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such.

However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed.

Oliseh withdraws suit, insists he wasn’t paid

Former Super Eagles’ coach Sunday Oliseh has withdrawn a lawsuit he instituted against the Nigeria Football Federation saying he has done so in the interest of the country. Oliseh made this known via a fresh video post on his personal website.
A statement of his Zenith Bank account, through which the NFF paid him while he was on duty, was also published.
He said, “I have instructed my lawyers to withdraw the lawsuit against the Nigeria Football Federation, after speaking with many Nigerians whom I respect a lot.”
Oliseh, however, insisted that he was not paid by the football federation before he resigned. The evidence he presented showed that there was no payment made to him in February.
“I also believe it is useless joining issues with people who are bent on deceiving Nigerians, and misleading Nigerians and diverting attention from the reality. And the reality is that I decided to resign on February 25 because certain vested interest in the NFF put their interest first before the interest of our country.
“If you put Nigeria first, you will always have problems with the NFF. This also explains why the benefits of players and wages and coaches are always placed secondary, while other things like team building trips (for FA chairmen) will always be catered to first,” he said.
Oliseh alleged the federation always prioritised expenditure that had little or no positive effect on the national team while leaving the players and coaches unattended to. He berated the technical committee for allegedly refusing to support him.
He said, “What they found more important to them was trying to influence who plays for Nigeria; who gets invited; who will play. And obviously, I refused because they are not coaches.”
But the NFF has continually disputed Oliseh’s claims that he has not been paid. Soon after the coach resigned, the federation said the ex-Eagles’ coach was paid about N20m shortly before his resignation and that the federation only owed the players and the coaches bonuses for the World Cup qualifier against Swaziland played in Port Harcourt in November 2015. They also acknowledge that they had not cleared the salaries of Oliseh’s assistants.
In a statement shortly after Oliseh’s resignation, the NFF said, “With regard to the allegation that he was not supported, it is pertinent to note that Mr. Oliseh himself had on numerous occasions expressed gratitude for the support he had received from the NFF and in particular from the NFF President and the Vice Presidents.”
They also explained that the new financial regime of Treasury Single Account in the country had contributed to the delay in settling the coach’s wages.
“Our sponsor could not pay him directly as the new law requires that the money be moved first to the federation’s account before we can apply for his salary and bureaucracy delays getting the money back. We don’t have full control,” an NFF official said.
The documents the NFF released on Tuesday indicate that a mandate was given to their bankers to pay the coach on February 23 but the actual payment date was made on February 26. They insist Oliseh received the cash and should instead be honourable to refund the salary for the month of February in lieu of notice while the former coach insists he has yet to receive it.
About a fortnight ago the NFF members said they wanted to concentrate on the game against Egypt; the same reason the meeting with the House of Representatives sports committee members was postponed.

UBA recorded N60bn profit in 2015

United Bank for Africa Plc, in its audited full year results for the year ended December 31, 2015, released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Monday, recorded a 25 per cent growth in its profit after tax to N60bn; translating to a 20 per cent return on average equity.
The bank recorded a 10 per cent growth in gross earnings, closing at N315bn.
 The pan-African financial services group with operations in 19 African countries also grew its operating income by 10 per cent to N205bn in December 2015; from N186bn in December 2014.
The board, according to a statement by the bank, is proposing a final dividend of 40 kobo per share. This brings to 60 kobo the total dividend for the 2015 financial year. UBA had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20 kobo per share, following the audit of its 2015 half year results.
Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said, “Our 2015 profit is a new high, reflecting the hard work and discipline of our board, management and staff in creating value for all  stakeholders. We remain committed to growing in a responsible manner that aligns with our vision of building an enduring institution.”
He said the bank’s resilient business model, geographic diversification, proactive strategies, and strong governance created an edge for it through the year. “We will continue to invest in our future whilst managing cost tightly to generate strong returns to shareholders,” he assured.
Also speaking on the UBA’s financial performance and position, the Group Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Ugo Nwaghodoh, said, “Amidst macroeconomic volatilities, we leveraged efficiency gains in our business development and operations to grow earnings.”

Amend your ways now

Medical students to spend 11 years – NUC

Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie

The National Universities Commission has stated that any student who wants to study medicine will henceforth spend a minimum of 10 to 11 years for the programme.
Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, stated this while delivering a lecture at the matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, Ondo State.
In a lecture titled ‘Development of Medical Education: Prospects and Challenges’, Okojie, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, said the move became imperative in order to enable the students to mature psychologically for the profession.
He said the 2015 document for the training of medical students made provision for students to spend four years studying basic sciences after which they would proceed to the medical school to spend another seven years.
Okojie added, “The new benchmark still retains the fundamental learning objectives that seek to achieve national development goals as well as a sustainable development goal.”
Stressing the need for adequate funding of medical training and practice, Okojie urged the university authorities to ensure the judicious use of the money earmarked for the development of the institution.
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, urged the university to leverage on the benefits of the medical complex around it to advance efforts in research and training.
Mimiko, who is the Visitor to school, also expressed optimism that the institution would be a leading platform for raising crops of competent individuals in the various health disciplines.
“It is our hope and belief that it will provide sound scientific, technological and professional training to address identified health needs and problems, solve them within the context of community and national needs and sustainable development,” the Visitor said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Friday Okonofua, who said the institution would achieve its objectives, appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to support its  ‘Friends of UNIMED Funds’ initiative, targeted at raising N1bn for the school.
He also commended the state government for establishing the university.

At Ibadan Poly, students live in bushes of fear

One of the buildings overtaken by bushes. 

Students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, are yearning for cleaner surroundings and hostels,
Established in 1971 from the facility left behind by the old University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, boasts being the alma mater of many prominent Nigerians. Many of them are indeed captains of industries.
But age is fast telling on the institution, especially its physical infrastructure. Little wonder, many students are complaining about the state of facilities in the 45-year-old institution situated in the Sango area of the sprawling city. Indeed, from the unoccupied lands, hostels to the laboratories, it is a litany of fear and anguish for the students.
For instance, our correspondent, who visited the school on Monday, observed that there was a large expanse of unused land occupied by tall grasses and trees. According to the students, the unused parcel of land is capable of being a home to reptiles and a den to cultists.
Some of them told our correspondent that they disliked moving around the campus at night for fear of being attacked by reptiles.
“As you can see, the bush is directly behind the classrooms and offices. We receive lectures late into the evening at times and, as a woman, the fear of being attacked while going home at night is always there,” said a female student of the Faculty of Engineering.
Another female student said she skipped any class scheduled to hold late in the evening in order to leave the area early. She noted that because of the irregular supply of electricity in the school, it was better not to take a risk of being in the area at night.
“I do not have to be told not to stay there when it is dark. We see people coming out of the place in the evening but, personally, I do not know who they are. Some of our colleagues say they are farmers but anybody can dress like a farmer to actualise an evil intention. That place needs to be cleared,” she said.
For another student, who gave his name as Segun, it is normal to find undeveloped land in big institutions. He believes it is pleasant to live close to nature.
“I have heard people complaining about the place but I see nothing wrong in it. I visit the University of Ibadan regularly. There are more bushes there than here and it is always lovely to walk under those trees.”
Apart from the bushy environment, the students also claimed that they were having challenges in their hostels. The school provides accommodation for the majority of the learners in four large hostels. These are the Ramat, Unity, Orisun and Olori halls. Apart from the electricity supplied by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the school, the institution compliments it with five hours of electricity supply through its main generator. Water is also pumped to
the hostels during this
period.
However, the students are demanding more. Some of them residing on campus want the authorities to extend the time that electricity is supplied to their hostels, especially during examination periods. They also want more cleaners in the hostels in order to address sewage disposal challenges.
At the Unity Hall, which accommodates male students, some of the students also complained about the poor condition of their rooms.
“We drop our mattresses on the floor because there are no beds. Mosquitoes invade our hostel because water from the bathrooms and toilets form pools in the open space within the hostel. The water channel is not closed and the water does not flow freely. We have enough water and the electricity situation is not too bad but six hours a day is not enough because we have to read at night after classes, especially during examination periods,” said one of the residents, Asaolu Adeola.
Our correspondent, however, observed that the school is upgrading the laboratories and studios in the faculties to aid learning and research. For example, at the Department of Chemistry, the obsolete equipment at its laboratories have been replaced with infrared, colorimeter, conductivity meter, vacuum pump, and gas chromatograph, among others. But the students complained that the laboratories were too small for effective learning.
“The development we have seen so far came from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and some old students of the school. It seems the Oyo State Government that owns the school has abandoned it,” said Oladele, an HND11 student of the department.
The school Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, however, said maintaining such a big school required huge funding and time to occupy all the virgin lands that the students said were threats to nightlife on campus.
He explained that some of the bushy portions belonged to the school’s closest neighbour, the University of Ibadan, while some employees of the polytechnic used other unoccupied lands belonging to the polytechnic as farms.
He said, “This is a big place but well maintained. Part of the virgin land belongs to the UI while some of our workers use the land that the polytechnic has yet to occupy as farms. In essence, they cannot refer to them as bushes or forest. It is, however, important to say that the school is introducing new programmes and more of the lands are being put to use.”
On the lack of space at the science laboratories, Adewole said the authorities had met the requirement set by the National Board of Technical Education and that a new multi-purpose laboratory had just been built and completed for students’ use.
“The polytechnic education system is practical. The NBTE is always here to assess the quality of our laboratory equipment. We cannot go lower than the standard set by the board,” he said.

At Ibadan Poly, students live in bushes of fear

One of the buildings overtaken by bushes. 

Students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, are yearning for cleaner surroundings and hostels,
Established in 1971 from the facility left behind by the old University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, boasts being the alma mater of many prominent Nigerians. Many of them are indeed captains of industries.
But age is fast telling on the institution, especially its physical infrastructure. Little wonder, many students are complaining about the state of facilities in the 45-year-old institution situated in the Sango area of the sprawling city. Indeed, from the unoccupied lands, hostels to the laboratories, it is a litany of fear and anguish for the students.
For instance, our correspondent, who visited the school on Monday, observed that there was a large expanse of unused land occupied by tall grasses and trees. According to the students, the unused parcel of land is capable of being a home to reptiles and a den to cultists.
Some of them told our correspondent that they disliked moving around the campus at night for fear of being attacked by reptiles.
“As you can see, the bush is directly behind the classrooms and offices. We receive lectures late into the evening at times and, as a woman, the fear of being attacked while going home at night is always there,” said a female student of the Faculty of Engineering.
Another female student said she skipped any class scheduled to hold late in the evening in order to leave the area early. She noted that because of the irregular supply of electricity in the school, it was better not to take a risk of being in the area at night.
“I do not have to be told not to stay there when it is dark. We see people coming out of the place in the evening but, personally, I do not know who they are. Some of our colleagues say they are farmers but anybody can dress like a farmer to actualise an evil intention. That place needs to be cleared,” she said.
For another student, who gave his name as Segun, it is normal to find undeveloped land in big institutions. He believes it is pleasant to live close to nature.
“I have heard people complaining about the place but I see nothing wrong in it. I visit the University of Ibadan regularly. There are more bushes there than here and it is always lovely to walk under those trees.”
Apart from the bushy environment, the students also claimed that they were having challenges in their hostels. The school provides accommodation for the majority of the learners in four large hostels. These are the Ramat, Unity, Orisun and Olori halls. Apart from the electricity supplied by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the school, the institution compliments it with five hours of electricity supply through its main generator. Water is also pumped to
the hostels during this
period.
However, the students are demanding more. Some of them residing on campus want the authorities to extend the time that electricity is supplied to their hostels, especially during examination periods. They also want more cleaners in the hostels in order to address sewage disposal challenges.
At the Unity Hall, which accommodates male students, some of the students also complained about the poor condition of their rooms.
“We drop our mattresses on the floor because there are no beds. Mosquitoes invade our hostel because water from the bathrooms and toilets form pools in the open space within the hostel. The water channel is not closed and the water does not flow freely. We have enough water and the electricity situation is not too bad but six hours a day is not enough because we have to read at night after classes, especially during examination periods,” said one of the residents, Asaolu Adeola.
Our correspondent, however, observed that the school is upgrading the laboratories and studios in the faculties to aid learning and research. For example, at the Department of Chemistry, the obsolete equipment at its laboratories have been replaced with infrared, colorimeter, conductivity meter, vacuum pump, and gas chromatograph, among others. But the students complained that the laboratories were too small for effective learning.
“The development we have seen so far came from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and some old students of the school. It seems the Oyo State Government that owns the school has abandoned it,” said Oladele, an HND11 student of the department.
The school Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, however, said maintaining such a big school required huge funding and time to occupy all the virgin lands that the students said were threats to nightlife on campus.
He explained that some of the bushy portions belonged to the school’s closest neighbour, the University of Ibadan, while some employees of the polytechnic used other unoccupied lands belonging to the polytechnic as farms.
He said, “This is a big place but well maintained. Part of the virgin land belongs to the UI while some of our workers use the land that the polytechnic has yet to occupy as farms. In essence, they cannot refer to them as bushes or forest. It is, however, important to say that the school is introducing new programmes and more of the lands are being put to use.”
On the lack of space at the science laboratories, Adewole said the authorities had met the requirement set by the National Board of Technical Education and that a new multi-purpose laboratory had just been built and completed for students’ use.
“The polytechnic education system is practical. The NBTE is always here to assess the quality of our laboratory equipment. We cannot go lower than the standard set by the board,” he said.

At Ibadan Poly, students live in bushes of fear

One of the buildings overtaken by bushes. 

Students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, are yearning for cleaner surroundings and hostels,
Established in 1971 from the facility left behind by the old University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, boasts being the alma mater of many prominent Nigerians. Many of them are indeed captains of industries.
But age is fast telling on the institution, especially its physical infrastructure. Little wonder, many students are complaining about the state of facilities in the 45-year-old institution situated in the Sango area of the sprawling city. Indeed, from the unoccupied lands, hostels to the laboratories, it is a litany of fear and anguish for the students.
For instance, our correspondent, who visited the school on Monday, observed that there was a large expanse of unused land occupied by tall grasses and trees. According to the students, the unused parcel of land is capable of being a home to reptiles and a den to cultists.
Some of them told our correspondent that they disliked moving around the campus at night for fear of being attacked by reptiles.
“As you can see, the bush is directly behind the classrooms and offices. We receive lectures late into the evening at times and, as a woman, the fear of being attacked while going home at night is always there,” said a female student of the Faculty of Engineering.
Another female student said she skipped any class scheduled to hold late in the evening in order to leave the area early. She noted that because of the irregular supply of electricity in the school, it was better not to take a risk of being in the area at night.
“I do not have to be told not to stay there when it is dark. We see people coming out of the place in the evening but, personally, I do not know who they are. Some of our colleagues say they are farmers but anybody can dress like a farmer to actualise an evil intention. That place needs to be cleared,” she said.
For another student, who gave his name as Segun, it is normal to find undeveloped land in big institutions. He believes it is pleasant to live close to nature.
“I have heard people complaining about the place but I see nothing wrong in it. I visit the University of Ibadan regularly. There are more bushes there than here and it is always lovely to walk under those trees.”
Apart from the bushy environment, the students also claimed that they were having challenges in their hostels. The school provides accommodation for the majority of the learners in four large hostels. These are the Ramat, Unity, Orisun and Olori halls. Apart from the electricity supplied by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the school, the institution compliments it with five hours of electricity supply through its main generator. Water is also pumped to
the hostels during this
period.
However, the students are demanding more. Some of them residing on campus want the authorities to extend the time that electricity is supplied to their hostels, especially during examination periods. They also want more cleaners in the hostels in order to address sewage disposal challenges.
At the Unity Hall, which accommodates male students, some of the students also complained about the poor condition of their rooms.
“We drop our mattresses on the floor because there are no beds. Mosquitoes invade our hostel because water from the bathrooms and toilets form pools in the open space within the hostel. The water channel is not closed and the water does not flow freely. We have enough water and the electricity situation is not too bad but six hours a day is not enough because we have to read at night after classes, especially during examination periods,” said one of the residents, Asaolu Adeola.
Our correspondent, however, observed that the school is upgrading the laboratories and studios in the faculties to aid learning and research. For example, at the Department of Chemistry, the obsolete equipment at its laboratories have been replaced with infrared, colorimeter, conductivity meter, vacuum pump, and gas chromatograph, among others. But the students complained that the laboratories were too small for effective learning.
“The development we have seen so far came from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and some old students of the school. It seems the Oyo State Government that owns the school has abandoned it,” said Oladele, an HND11 student of the department.
The school Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, however, said maintaining such a big school required huge funding and time to occupy all the virgin lands that the students said were threats to nightlife on campus.
He explained that some of the bushy portions belonged to the school’s closest neighbour, the University of Ibadan, while some employees of the polytechnic used other unoccupied lands belonging to the polytechnic as farms.
He said, “This is a big place but well maintained. Part of the virgin land belongs to the UI while some of our workers use the land that the polytechnic has yet to occupy as farms. In essence, they cannot refer to them as bushes or forest. It is, however, important to say that the school is introducing new programmes and more of the lands are being put to use.”
On the lack of space at the science laboratories, Adewole said the authorities had met the requirement set by the National Board of Technical Education and that a new multi-purpose laboratory had just been built and completed for students’ use.
“The polytechnic education system is practical. The NBTE is always here to assess the quality of our laboratory equipment. We cannot go lower than the standard set by the board,” he said.

At Ibadan Poly, students live in bushes of fear

One of the buildings overtaken by bushes. 

Students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, are yearning for cleaner surroundings and hostels,
Established in 1971 from the facility left behind by the old University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, boasts being the alma mater of many prominent Nigerians. Many of them are indeed captains of industries.
But age is fast telling on the institution, especially its physical infrastructure. Little wonder, many students are complaining about the state of facilities in the 45-year-old institution situated in the Sango area of the sprawling city. Indeed, from the unoccupied lands, hostels to the laboratories, it is a litany of fear and anguish for the students.
For instance, our correspondent, who visited the school on Monday, observed that there was a large expanse of unused land occupied by tall grasses and trees. According to the students, the unused parcel of land is capable of being a home to reptiles and a den to cultists.
Some of them told our correspondent that they disliked moving around the campus at night for fear of being attacked by reptiles.
“As you can see, the bush is directly behind the classrooms and offices. We receive lectures late into the evening at times and, as a woman, the fear of being attacked while going home at night is always there,” said a female student of the Faculty of Engineering.
Another female student said she skipped any class scheduled to hold late in the evening in order to leave the area early. She noted that because of the irregular supply of electricity in the school, it was better not to take a risk of being in the area at night.
“I do not have to be told not to stay there when it is dark. We see people coming out of the place in the evening but, personally, I do not know who they are. Some of our colleagues say they are farmers but anybody can dress like a farmer to actualise an evil intention. That place needs to be cleared,” she said.
For another student, who gave his name as Segun, it is normal to find undeveloped land in big institutions. He believes it is pleasant to live close to nature.
“I have heard people complaining about the place but I see nothing wrong in it. I visit the University of Ibadan regularly. There are more bushes there than here and it is always lovely to walk under those trees.”
Apart from the bushy environment, the students also claimed that they were having challenges in their hostels. The school provides accommodation for the majority of the learners in four large hostels. These are the Ramat, Unity, Orisun and Olori halls. Apart from the electricity supplied by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the school, the institution compliments it with five hours of electricity supply through its main generator. Water is also pumped to
the hostels during this
period.
However, the students are demanding more. Some of them residing on campus want the authorities to extend the time that electricity is supplied to their hostels, especially during examination periods. They also want more cleaners in the hostels in order to address sewage disposal challenges.
At the Unity Hall, which accommodates male students, some of the students also complained about the poor condition of their rooms.
“We drop our mattresses on the floor because there are no beds. Mosquitoes invade our hostel because water from the bathrooms and toilets form pools in the open space within the hostel. The water channel is not closed and the water does not flow freely. We have enough water and the electricity situation is not too bad but six hours a day is not enough because we have to read at night after classes, especially during examination periods,” said one of the residents, Asaolu Adeola.
Our correspondent, however, observed that the school is upgrading the laboratories and studios in the faculties to aid learning and research. For example, at the Department of Chemistry, the obsolete equipment at its laboratories have been replaced with infrared, colorimeter, conductivity meter, vacuum pump, and gas chromatograph, among others. But the students complained that the laboratories were too small for effective learning.
“The development we have seen so far came from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and some old students of the school. It seems the Oyo State Government that owns the school has abandoned it,” said Oladele, an HND11 student of the department.
The school Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, however, said maintaining such a big school required huge funding and time to occupy all the virgin lands that the students said were threats to nightlife on campus.
He explained that some of the bushy portions belonged to the school’s closest neighbour, the University of Ibadan, while some employees of the polytechnic used other unoccupied lands belonging to the polytechnic as farms.
He said, “This is a big place but well maintained. Part of the virgin land belongs to the UI while some of our workers use the land that the polytechnic has yet to occupy as farms. In essence, they cannot refer to them as bushes or forest. It is, however, important to say that the school is introducing new programmes and more of the lands are being put to use.”
On the lack of space at the science laboratories, Adewole said the authorities had met the requirement set by the National Board of Technical Education and that a new multi-purpose laboratory had just been built and completed for students’ use.
“The polytechnic education system is practical. The NBTE is always here to assess the quality of our laboratory equipment. We cannot go lower than the standard set by the board,” he said.